Electrical selector switch with improved carriage and dial actuating apparatus



April 9, 1968 R. A. DOUBT 3,

ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH WITH IMPROVED CARRIAGE AND DIAL ACTUATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. R. A. DOUBT AT TORNEVS Aprll 9, 1968 R. A. DOUBT 3,377,444

ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH WITH IMPROVED CARRIAGE AND DIAL ACTUATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l8 nnnn nnnnnnnn INVENTOR. R. A. DOUBT A 7' TORNEYS p l 9, 68 R. DOUBT 3,377,444

WITH IMPROVED CARR ELECTRICAL ECTOR IAGE A DIAL ACTU NG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 2 J f f s W K I W Ill 1201 I F j 24 j 4 25 LA 4o g y I JL :1 i

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INVENTOR.

R. A. DOUBT A T TORNEVS April 9, 1968 R. A. DOUBT 3,377,444

ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH WITH IMPROVED CARRIAGE AND DIAL ACTUATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 6 R. A. DOUBT BYklkmqgm A T TORNE rs 3,377,444 IAGE April 9, 1968 R A. DOUBT ELECTRICAL SELECTOR SWITCH WITH IMPROVED CARE AND DIAL ACTUATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 KMFMEOEWEW SWITCH POSITION FIXED MOVABLE PANEL All PANEL INVENTOR. R A DOUBT A 7' TORNEVS United States Patent 3,377,444 ELECTRICAL SEL CTOR SWITCH WITH IM- PROVED CARRIAGE AND DIAL ACTUAT- ING APPARATUS Ralph A. Doubt, Bartlesville, 0kla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation oi Delaware Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 592,357 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch structure containing a carriage member having a movable contact panel which engages a stationary contact panel with socket structure. The carriage member is movable by a lever while lateral adjustment is accomplished by dial intermittent motion apparatus.

This invention relates to electrical switching devices. In another aspect this invention relates to electrical selector switches capable of the simultaneous connecting of a plurality of electrical circuits.

Industry has a considerable demand for electrical switches capable of connecting a plurality of electrical circuits to input or output circuits in one position and of connecting a plurality of other circuits to the same input or output circuits when changed to another position. Many applications involve centralized remote control of several systems at various locations electrically connected to a control center. For instance, in a system of centralized data recording of multiple data transmissions from several stations, it may 'be desirable to switch the data transmission circuits from one or more of the stations into amplitying-recording circuits while switching others out of the amplifying-recording circuits dependent upon which station is transmitting data.

One specific example of an application for such a switch is in a recording van for seismic surveys. In this application a plurality of seismometer stations are arranged to detect seismic signals from disturbances imparted in one or-more shallow bore holes (each called a shot point). A van carrying recording equipment is electrically connected to all the seismometer stations. As a distrubance is generated at each shot point, the seismometer stations convert the detected, reflected or refracted seismic waves into corresponding seismic signals which are amplified and recorded in the van. When a different shot point is perturbated, diiferent seismometer stations are used to detect the seismic waves resulting therefrom. In order to record data from several shot points without disconnecting and connecting electric cables, it is necessary to switch the previously used seismometer stations out of the amplifying-recording circuits in the van and to switch other seismometer stations into the amplifying recording circuits.

1 For many industrial applications it is desirable to have a switch of this type which has contacts providing positive engagement thereby reducing the electrical resistance through the contacts to a minimum and improving the confidence level of obtaining an adequate electrical connection. Because of varied industrial applications, it is desirable to have a compact switch which has a high reliability after repeated switching operations and is rugged enough to withstand reasonably adverse environmental conditions. Simplicity of operation and economical manufacture are additional desirable attributes for a switch of this type.

The most widely used selector switch is a rotary type. Generally, a rotary type switch is not acceptable for many industrial applications because of the size necessary to accommodate a large number of contacts; in some applications making and breaking as many as or more contacts at one time may be desired. Selector switches are often used in conjunction with other electronic equipment so it is also desirable that they be adaptable to a module for a standard electronic equipment rack. Many other applications also require a compact switch.

Most rotary type switches operate with a spring-type wiper which rides along on top of the electrical contacts. In addition to considerable wear resulting from the friction between the wiper and the contacts, adjustment of the wiper is critical to insure an adequate, low-resistance electrical connection. Degradation of the reliability of a switch of this type after repeated operations is obvious.

Another prior art selector switch involves the use of fixed, parallel rows of sockets mounted in a rack and parallel rows of pins mounted on a panel which slides inside a door hinged to the front of the rack. This door is opened and closed to engage the pins into the sockets. To change position the door is opened to disengage the pins, the pins are advanced to another position by sliding the panel to the desired position and the door is then closed to engage the pins into the sockets. This switch, although compact and adaptable to electronic equipment racks, has some inherent disadvantages which effect reliability. As the door is being closed to engage the pins into the sockets, the pins pass through an arc, the radius of which is the distance between the door hinge and the pins. As the pins are being engaged into the sockets they must assume a slight arcuate shape until the door is fully closed. The pins closest to the door hinge are subjected to a considerable bend because of the small radius of the arc of their motion while the door is being closed.

This bending of the pins during engagement causes transverse forces between the pins and their mating sockets with a resultant wear to both the pins and the sockets. After numerous switching operations the usual consequences of this wear is an undesirable increase in resistance across the contacts or a loss of electrical continuity. Also, some of the pins often becomes permanently bent so that they are not properly aligned with their mating sockets. Misaligned pins result in either a poor contact or no contact at all if the pins bend over instead of engaging in their mating socket.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a rugged, simply-operated, compact and reliable electrical selector switch capable of connecting a variety of a large number of circuits to a plurality of input or output circuits. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch of the above-mentioned type that contains a plurality of pins which engage in a plurality of sockets such that no substantial transverse sideloads are imposed into either the pins or sockets during engagementthereby minimizing the electrical resistance through the contacts even after repeated operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a switch of the above-mentioned type, a mechanism for aligning the pins in relation to the mating sockets so that the pins will not be bent over during the operation of the switch.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 1

According to my invention, the apparatus comprises a plurality of positive-contact electrical sockets arranged in an array and electrical pins, less in number than the sockets and mounted to a movable panel, arranged to engage into these sockets. A carriage carrying the movable panel, which is moved to engage and disengage the pins, is constructed so that, as the pins are engaged into and disengaged from the sockets, the pins are maintained substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the sockets thereby substantially eliminating transverse forces between the pins and sockets during engagement and disengagement. The movable panel, which is moved to change the switch position, is provided with a detent mechanism which physically aligns the pins with their respective sockets prior to engagement thereby minimizing bending of the pins when engaged into the sockets. The carriage and movable panel are constructed so that the sockets which are not in use are protected from the external environment.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred external structure of my invention with the switch in the closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section, partially sectioned, substantially 011 line 22 of FIGURE 1 with the switch in the open position;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 with the switch in the open position;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section of the sliding panel and carriage, hereinafter described, substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of one arrangement of electrical sockets contained in the switch;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation View of one arrangement of the electrical pins contained in the switch;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical section showing certain details of the detent mechanism hereinafter described; and

FIGURE 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating a portion of my switch electrically connected for one possible application.

For purposes of describing the overall construction of my invention reference is made to FIGURE 1 which is a perspective view of the external structure of the switch with the contacts closed. The external structure of the switch includes a rigid frame 1, a fixed rectangular panel 2 mounted to the front of frame 1, a carriage 3 slidably mounted to the front panel 2 so that carriage 3 can be moved away from and towards panel 2, a rectangular panel 4 slidably attached to carriage 3 so that panel 4 can be moved laterally with respect to carriage 3, a cover plate 5 attached to panel 4, a pivotal handle 6 which is actuated to move carriage 3 away from and towards panel 2, a position indicator 7 and a rotatable knob 8 which is rotated to move panel 4 laterally.

Mounted longitudinally within panel 2 is a plurality of parallel rows of a series of electrical sockets 9, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5. Any conventional electrical receptacle with a series of aligned sockets which provide positive contact is acceptable. An example of an acceptable receptacle is one sold by Amphenol, part No. 143- 122-01 as listed in 1966 Electronic Engineers Catalog and Purchasing Guide of Electronic Industries, published by United Technical Publications and appearing in section 2100 therein at page 780. j

Referring now to FIGURE 2, guide pins 10 are mounted to carriage 3, two of which are shown. Guide pins 10 extend through and are slidable within bearing sleeves 11, shown by dotted lines, provided in panel 2. A close tolerance fit is maintained between guide pins 10 and bearing sleeves 11 to minimize the lateral motion of carriage 3 as it is being moved away from and towards panel 4 thereby insuring that carriage 3 is maintained substantially parallel to panel 2 during operation of the switch as described in detail hereinafter.

Panel 4 is mounted for lateral movement with respect to carriage 3. Keys 12a and 12b, attached to and extending lengthwise of the longitudinal edge ofpanel 4, fit into keyways provided in carriage 3 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The keys which slide in the keyways facilitate the lateral movement of panel 4 with respect to carriage 3.

A rack 13, disposed and slidable within a slot provided in carriage 3, is attached to panel 4. Knob 8 is attached to a shaft 14 having a pinion gear 15 attached thereto. Shaft 14 extends through and is rotatable within bearing sleeve 16 in carriage 3 and bearing sleeve 17, shown by dotted lines, in panel 2. Pinion gear 15, disposed within a recess provided in carriage 3, meshes with rack 13 such that rotation of knob 8 translates rack 13 and panel 4 laterally with respect to carriage 3. Panel 4 can be moved in either lateral direction by clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of knob 8.

Mounted longitudinally within panel 4 is a plurality of parallel rows of a series of electrical pins 18 as shown in FIGURES 2, 3, and 6. Any conventional electrical connector with a series of aligned pins is acceptable. Any example of an acceptable connector is one sold by Amphenol, part No. 133-012-21 as listed in 1966 Electronic Engineers Catalog and Purchasing, Guide of Electronic Industries, published by United Technical Publications and appearing in section 2100 therein at page 779.

Panel 4 fits into recess 19 provided in carriage 3 as shown by FIGURES 1, 2, and 4. The shoulder 20 of recess 19 limits the amount of lateral movement of panel 4 when the end 21 of same engages with said shoulder. The electrical pins 18 mounted to panel 4 extend through an opening provided in carriage 3 as shown in FIGURE 4. This opening accommodates lateral motion of panel 4 but is less than the length of panel 4 so that the panel always completely covers the opening even when moved to the limit in one direction as shown in FIGURE 4. The panel is shown in the position it will assume when knob 8 has been rotated clockwise as far as possible. This feature of the switch provides protection to all unplugged sockets thereby preventing potential external contamination, such as dust. This environmental protection is desirable for many field applications of an electrical switch of this type.

A toggle joint arrangement, which includes upper secondary toggle links 22, 23, 24, 25, and lower secondary toggle links (two of which are shown, 26 and 27, in FIG- URE 3), is pivotally mounted to carriage 3 and the rear of frame 1 as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3. For purposes of brevity only one upper toggle joint will be described. As shown in FIGURE 2, one end of rear secondary toggle link 23 is mounted to the rear of frame 1 by a fixed fastening means, such as a bolt or pin, which permits the link to pivot. One end of the forward secondary toggle link 22 extends through a slot 30, shown by dotted lines, provided in panel 2 and is mounted to carriage 3, within a recess provided therein, by a fixed fastening means, such as a bolt or pin, which permits the link to pivot. Slot 30 in panel 2 is demensi-oned to allow movement of the forward secondary link during operation of the switch as described hereinafter. The other end of both the rear secondary toggle link 23 and forward secondary toggle link 22 is pivotally attached to a vertical shaft 31 which forms the knee of the toggle joint. Shaft 31 connects the upper secondary toggle links 22 and 23 with the lower secondary toggle links 26 and 27 as shown in FIGURE 3. A spacer 33 is provided between the upper and lower secondary toggle links as a support, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, handle 6, situated at the front of carriage 3, is attached to a toggle cam 34, mounted within a slot provided in carriage 3 by a pin 35, which permits the cam to be pivoted. The handle and toggle cam are designed to provide the necessary mechanical leverage so that the force required to make and break a large number of contacts does not exceed the reasonable ability of the operator. For example, with a switch having contacts to make and break, it has been found that a mechanical advantage of about 30 to 1 is required to open the switch with a reasonable amount of force.

A toggle power link 36 which extends through a slot provided in panel 2 is pivotally attached at one end to shaft 31 at a point interposed between the upper and lower secondary toggle links, as shown by FIGURE 3,

and is pivotally attached at the other end to toggle cam 34 by a fastening means, such as a pin or bolt. Primary toggle link 37 mechanically links the two vertical shafts 31 and 32 together.

As shown by FIGURE 1, reference mark 38 is engraved in a metal strip 39 attached to carriage 3 and position indicator 7 is attached to panel 4. This provides the capability for visually determining the position of panel 4. Other technique-s for position indicating may be used, such as a graduated scale attached to panel 4 which is disposed behind a window opening in the carriage with the number appearing in the window representing the switch position.

A detent mechanism 40 which plunger 41 and a roller 42 attached to the plunger is disposed within carriage 3 so so that the roller 42 is in contact with the teeth of rack 13 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 7. The pitch of the teeth on the rack is dimensioned so that the detent physically centers the pins with their respective sockets when changed to a different switch position. This feature of my switch provides precise alignment of the pins and sockets, thereby minimizing the bending of pins when engaged into the socket, without depending upon exact visual alignment of reference mark 38 and graduations on the position indicator 7 of FIG- URE 1. I

In the operation of my switch, as illustrated by FIG- URE 2 which shows the switch in the disengaged position, pins 18 are disengaged from sockets 9 by pulling handle 6 outwardly to the left, as shown by arrow. Toggle cam 34 pivots about pin 35 and the eccentric action of toggle cam 34 causes toggle power link 36 to move vertical shaft 31 to the right, or in other words the knee of the toggle joint is straightened. As the knee is straightened carriage 3 is moved away from panel 2, as shown by arrow, and the pins are disengaged from the sockets. Since the two vertical shafts 31 and 32 are mechanically linked by the primary toggle link 37 all four toggle joints operate simultaneously.

By pushing handle 6 inwardly to the right, as shown by arrow, the reverse action of the toggle joint takes place, i.e., the knee assumes a bent position and the pins are engaged.

As described previously the guide pins 10 insure that carriage 3 is maintained substantially parallel to panel 2 while being moved away from and towards panel 2. This insures that the pins 18 are not bent during engagement with and disengagement from sockets 9 thereby minimizing the transverse forces between the pins and their mating sockets. Wear to pins and sockets is reduced significantly and the probability of pins becoming permanently bent because of being subjected to an arcuate shape during engagement and disengagement is virtually eliminated.

After the pins are disengaged from the sockets, as shown by FIGURE 2, panel 4 can be shifted to another position by rotating knob 8. As described previously each tooth of rack 13 represents a different switch position and pins 18 are mechanically aligned with their mating sockets 9 by detent mechanism 40. The position of the panel of the switch position is readily observable by determining the position number on position indicator 7 adjacent to reference mark 38 shown in FIGURE 1. After the panel 4 has been moved to the desired position by rotating knob 8, the pins are engaged into sockets by pushing handle 6 inwardly towards the right thereby completing the switchin operations.

For purposes of illustrating the electrical switching function of the switch, reference is made to FIGURE 8 which shows, diagrammatically, a portion of the switch and a portion of electrical circuitry connecting recorderamplifiers to seismometers for a seismic survey as described previously. In FIGURE 8 movable panel 4 in FIGURE 2 is represented by 43, fixed panel 2 in FIG- URE 2 is represented by 44, pins 18 in FIGURE 2 are includes a spring-loaded 6 I represented by arrows 45, sockets 9 in FIGURE 2 are represented by small circles 46 and position indicator 7 in FIGURE 1 is represented by graduated scale 47. Elec trical leads are connected in pairs from each socket to seismometers (not shown) and electrical leads are connected from each pin to recorder-amplifiers (not shown). As schematically shown in FIGURE 8, the pins (as represented by the arrows, move in unison to the right. In the position shown, which corresponds to Switch Position 1, pins 45a and 45b engage in sockets 46a and 46b thereby connecting seismometer leads 48 and 49 to recorderamplifier leads 50 and51. Similarly, in the position shown, pins 45c and 45d engage in sockets 46c and 46d thereby connecting seismometer leads 51 and 52 to recorder-amplifier leads 54, 55, etc. In preparing to move to Switch Position 2, handle 6 in FIGURE 2 is pulled outwardly and knob 8 in FIGURE 2 is rotated so that No. 2 is indicated by position-indicating numeral on position indicator 7 being aligned with reference mark 38 in FIG- URE 1. This results in movement of the pins in FIG- URE 8 in unison to the right under Switch Position 2. With the pins in this position, shown by broken lines in FIGURE 8, pins 45a and 45b, for example, will now connect seismometer leads 56 and 57 to recorder-amplifier leads 50 and 51, etc., when handle 6 of FIGURE 2 is pushed to the closed position. Similarly, when handle 6 of FIGURE 2 is pulled outwardly and knob 8 of FIG- URE 2 is rotated, so that No. 3 is indicated by the position-indicating numeral being aligned with reference mark, the pins will move to the right and occupy a position under Switch Position 3, etc. It should be obvious that the number of positions and circuit arrangements can be varied dependent upon the requirement for each specific application for the switch. The particular circuitry arrangement-and switch positions shown in FIGURE 8 are for the purposes of illustration only and the scope of this invention is not limited thereto.

The switch of my invention, heretofore described as manually operated, can be easily automated if remote control of the switch is desired. Referring to FIGURE 2, instead of using knob 8, a controllable motor could be attached to shaft 14 to rotate same. Also, carriage 3 could be moved away from and towards panel 2 by any conventional electrically operated means, such as extending the guide pins 10 and actuating them simultaneously by electrical solenoids. This later actuation means would then delete the requirement for the toggle joint arrangement and handle shown in FIGURE 2.

Various modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that the latter is not necessarily limited to the aforementioned discussion.

I claim:

1. An electrical selector switch comprising:

(a) a fixed panel;

(b) at least one row of fixed electrical sockets mounted within said fixed panel;

(c) a carriage, having an opening therein, slidably attached to the front of said fixed panel;

(d) a panel slidably attached to and carried by said carriage;

(e) at least one row of fixed electrical pins, less in number than said electrical sockets, mounted within said slidable panel, extending through said opening of said carriage and arranged to engage with the said sockets;

(f) said opening in said carriage being larger than the length of at least one row of said pins;

(g) means for moving said carriage away from and towards said fixed panel so that substantially no transverse forces are imposed between said pins and said sockets during disengagement and engagement of same;

(h) means operatively attached to said slidable panel for translating said slidable panel laterally; and

(i) means for mechanically aligning said pins with said sockets prior to engagement.

2. A switch according to claim 1, further comprising a frame on which said fixed panel is mounted, and wherein said translating means comprises: I

(a) a shaft rotatably mounted to and extending through said carriage and slidably attached to and extending through said fixed panel;

(b) a rack, slidably disposed within said carriage, at-

tached to said slidable panel;

(c) a pinion gear mounted on said shaft which meshes with said rack; and

(d) a means for rotating said shaft either clockwise or counterclockwise.

3. A switch according to claim 1, further comprising a frame on which said fixed panel is mounted, and wherein said moving means comprises:

(a) guide pins attached to said carriage;

(1)) bearing sleeves mounted in said fixed panel having inside diameters in close tolerance with outside diameter of said guide pins;

(c) said guide pins extending through said bearing sleeves;

(d) a toggle joint arrangement pivotally attached to said frame at one end and pivotally attached to said carriage at the other end; and

(e) a means for actuating said toggle joint arrangement.

4. A switch according to claim 1, further comprising a frame on which said fixed panel is mounted, and wherein said opening in said carriage and said slidable panel are dimensioned so that said opening is always covered by said slid-able panel when said slidable panel is translated back and forth laterally to its limits.

5. A switch according to claim 1, further comprising a frame on which said fixed panel is mounted, and wherein said pins and said sockets are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows.

6. A switch according to claim 1, further comprising a frame on which said fixed panel is mounted, and wherein said alignment means comprises:

(a) said rack having teeth dimensioned so that the distance between such teeth is equal to the distance between the centers of said sockets for the next switch position;

(b) a detent mechanism disposed Within said carriage which is in spring-loaded contact with said rack.

7. A switch according to claim 2 wherein said'rotating means comprises a knob attached to the end of said shaft external to said carriage for manual rotation.

8. A switch according to claim 3 wherein said actuating means comprises:

(a) a handle; (b) said handle attached to a toggle cam; (c) said toggle cam pivotally mounted to said carriage; (d) a power toggle link pivotally attached to said toggle cam at one end and operatively attached to said toggle joint arrangement at the other end. 9. A switch according to claim 6 wherein said detent mechanism comprises a spring-loaded plunger having a roller attached thereto being in contact with the teeth of said rack.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,184,700 5/1965 Burke et al. 339-18 3,187,120 6/1965 Akst 200--16 3,244,823 4/ 1966 Hall 200l6 3,341,801 9/1967 Brookman et al. 339-48 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

J. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

